Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Luis Rodriguez
Rodriguez takes a slight lead over the first six rounds. Leonard is confused by his unorthodox style and uncanny boxing ability. Leonard fared better in rounds 7 through 10. He begins to find the range with his blistering combinations. By the end of the 10th the fight is even. The 11th and 12th rounds are slow paced as both men engage in a chess match on the outside.
In the 13th, Leonard lands a tremendous left hook to the body, causing Rodriguez to groan. He traps Rodriguez along the ropes and lands a wicked 3 punch combination as the round comes to a close. Rodriguez is on rubbery legs as he returns to the corner. Leonard continues his momentum in the 14th as Rodriguez appears to be tiring.
El Feo rallies over the first half of the 15th round. He lands a right hand that shakes Leonard and forces him to grab and hold on. However, Leonard takes control late in the round landing a sizzling 5 punch combination capped off by a left uppercut which rocks Rodriguez. With 30 seconds remaining in the fight, Leonard floors Rodriguez with an overhand right. Rodriguez rises at the count of 7 and manages to survive until the final bell.
Leonard is announced the winner by unanimous decision (144-140), (144-141), (145-140). SRL moves on to the final four to face the winner of Walker vs Armstrong.
Leonard UD 15
Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Thomas Hearns
The pace was slow in the first round with Hearns having a slight edge at long range on the strength of his left jab. The second round features one of the most shocking moments boxing has ever seen. Hearns lands flush with a right hand sending Robinson to the canvas. Robinson rose at the count of 8 but is badly hurt. The crowd rose to its feet in disbelief. From ringside, Don Dunphy exclaims: “I’ve never seen Sugar Ray Robinson in such bad trouble”. Hearns pursues Robinson to the ropes and lands another tremendous right which nearly floored Robinson again. However, Robinson landed a hard left hook, right cross combination which backs Tommy off. Robinson survives the round but his legs still shake as he returns to the corner.
Robinson’s head clears by the end of the 3rd and by the 4th, he starts tagging Hearns regularly with the right hand over Tommy’s low left. In the 5th, Robinson nearly breaks Hearns in half with a left to the body. A few seconds later he lands a big right which sends Tommy careening across the ring like a drunken sailor. Hearns is nearly out on his feet but somehow manages to survive the round. Hearns get on his bicycle in rounds 6 and 7 while Robinson patiently pursues.
In round 8, Robinson finds the opportunity he’s been looking for. He lands a vicious 3 punch combination to the body and follows up with a crushing right that sends Hearns to the canvas for the second time in the fight. Tommy beats the count but doesn’t have a leg under him. One final Robinson left hook knocks Hearns cold, leaving him unconscious on the canvas. Robinson wins by KO and advances to the final four to face the winner of Jose Napoles vs Roberto Duran.
Robinson KO 8
Rodriguez takes a slight lead over the first six rounds. Leonard is confused by his unorthodox style and uncanny boxing ability. Leonard fared better in rounds 7 through 10. He begins to find the range with his blistering combinations. By the end of the 10th the fight is even. The 11th and 12th rounds are slow paced as both men engage in a chess match on the outside.
In the 13th, Leonard lands a tremendous left hook to the body, causing Rodriguez to groan. He traps Rodriguez along the ropes and lands a wicked 3 punch combination as the round comes to a close. Rodriguez is on rubbery legs as he returns to the corner. Leonard continues his momentum in the 14th as Rodriguez appears to be tiring.
El Feo rallies over the first half of the 15th round. He lands a right hand that shakes Leonard and forces him to grab and hold on. However, Leonard takes control late in the round landing a sizzling 5 punch combination capped off by a left uppercut which rocks Rodriguez. With 30 seconds remaining in the fight, Leonard floors Rodriguez with an overhand right. Rodriguez rises at the count of 7 and manages to survive until the final bell.
Leonard is announced the winner by unanimous decision (144-140), (144-141), (145-140). SRL moves on to the final four to face the winner of Walker vs Armstrong.
Leonard UD 15
Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Thomas Hearns
The pace was slow in the first round with Hearns having a slight edge at long range on the strength of his left jab. The second round features one of the most shocking moments boxing has ever seen. Hearns lands flush with a right hand sending Robinson to the canvas. Robinson rose at the count of 8 but is badly hurt. The crowd rose to its feet in disbelief. From ringside, Don Dunphy exclaims: “I’ve never seen Sugar Ray Robinson in such bad trouble”. Hearns pursues Robinson to the ropes and lands another tremendous right which nearly floored Robinson again. However, Robinson landed a hard left hook, right cross combination which backs Tommy off. Robinson survives the round but his legs still shake as he returns to the corner.
Robinson’s head clears by the end of the 3rd and by the 4th, he starts tagging Hearns regularly with the right hand over Tommy’s low left. In the 5th, Robinson nearly breaks Hearns in half with a left to the body. A few seconds later he lands a big right which sends Tommy careening across the ring like a drunken sailor. Hearns is nearly out on his feet but somehow manages to survive the round. Hearns get on his bicycle in rounds 6 and 7 while Robinson patiently pursues.
In round 8, Robinson finds the opportunity he’s been looking for. He lands a vicious 3 punch combination to the body and follows up with a crushing right that sends Hearns to the canvas for the second time in the fight. Tommy beats the count but doesn’t have a leg under him. One final Robinson left hook knocks Hearns cold, leaving him unconscious on the canvas. Robinson wins by KO and advances to the final four to face the winner of Jose Napoles vs Roberto Duran.
Robinson KO 8